COVID-19 ALERT 07 | Philippine Updates

20 March 2020

To: Our Valued Principals & Industry Partners

Hereunder are the latest updates from the Philippines for your reference:

Lifting of Outbound Travel ban for OFWs, Foreigners.

Further to the 72-hour travel window given to the International travelers from Luzon in connection to the enhanced community quarantine implemented effective 12:00 am on March 17, 2020, the authorities approved that all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs, which includes our Crew), Balikbayans and Foreign nationals shall be allowed to leave the Philippines at any time while restrictions to Filipino tourists remains in place. Filipino citizens are strictly not allowed to take an outbound international flight to countries where travel restrictions are in place.

If travelling within Luzon, for the purpose of International Travel, proof of international travel itinerary with departure scheduled within 24-hrs from leaving residence or accommodation shall be presented. On transportation arrangements, outbound passengers may be accompanied by only one companion or driver to and from the airport.

OFW Return and Repatriation. OFWs who are returning or being repatriated to the country shall be subjected to the social distancing measures, quarantine procedures at national and local government unit (LGU) levels, as well as immigration procedures that are currently in place. Assistance and services for the said workers shall be provided by government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Bureau of Quarantine, or the Philippine Ports Authority, as appropriate. The government, the stakeholders in the Philippine recruitment and manning industry, as well as foreign principals shall work in close coordination through tripartite consultations in upholding the provisions contained in the standard employment contracts signed by the workers.

Local Travel for OFWs with OECs and Confirmed International Itinerary. Pursuant to relevant Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution(s), outbound passengers intending to depart from the Philippines from any of the international airports in Luzon shall be allowed to travel provided, that on top of existing POEA processes in the issuance of OECs, travelling OFWs shall be further subjected to comply with social distancing measures, quarantine procedures at national and local government unit (LGU) levels, as well as immigration procedures that are currently in place. Proof of confirmed international itinerary of the travelling OFW should be readily presented at checkpoints. The aforementioned provision shall not be interpreted to allow outbound travel to countries where travel restrictions are in place.